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Share The award, the university’s top staff accolade, is named for the wife of former Rice President Malcolm Gillis and recognizes staff members who, like Elizabeth Gillis herself, demonstrate unflagging commitment and service to the university. Focke, a nationally recognized expert in managing oral history projects, oversees the university’s archives, rare books and manuscript collections. She works with campus constituents on processing important collections and integrating archives into teaching and learning. She also reaches out to the community on oral history projects. Some of Focke’s most recent projects have been her most high-profile work. She worked with the late activist Reginald Moore to document the brutal convict leasing system that thrived in Fort Bend County during the second half of the 19th century. She also partnered with the Houston Asian American Archive to chronicle the history of Asian American life in Houston. ....